Compton Club Events

Events in 2010 and earlier

Copytight vs copylight

The concerns brought about by the possibilities of access and sharing, created by the development of digital technology, have disturbed already contentious traditional concepts and principles of copyright, fair use and balance, as well as the justifications it is founded upon. In the light of ongoing debates and legislative action, such as the recent Digital Economy Act 2010, and further confrontation and intensified conflict between those wanting to control creativity and culture and those wanting to free it and make it available to the public, we invite you to participate in Copytight vs. Copylight. In the first instance, three short documentary films will be shown, all of which will help to engage you in critical viewing and further debate regarding the conundrum of copyright and technology.

STEAL THIS FILM II (2007; DURATION 44:00)

The second sequel about the Swedish site ‘Pirate Bay’ that promotes anti-copyright and indexes BitTorrent files. It became one of the most popular and controversial sites which lead to prosecution and charging of four individuals for promoting copyright infringement, being sentenced to serve one year in jail and pay fine of approximately £ 2 million.

5 May, 2010

Building: 4-12 Little Titchfield Street; Room: LTS 2.11

Time: 2pm

GOOD COPY BAD COPY

A documentary about the current state of copyright and culture (2007; duration 58.43) is addressing the issues raised by the technological advances and their impact on the culture. Scholars like Lessig and Vaidhyanathan are interviewed in this film. Directed by Andreas Johnsen, Ralf Christensen,and Henrik Moltke.

12 May, 2010

Building: Regent Street; Room: 214

Time: 2pm

RIP: A REMIX MANIFESTO (2008; DURATION 1:26)

Written and directed by Brett Gaylor, is a documentary inviting you to immerse yourself in the energetic, innovative and potentially illegal world of mash-up media. It has been officially selected for numerous international film festivals.

19 May, 2010

Building: 4-12 Little Titchfield Street; Room: LTS 2.11

Time: 2pm

6 February 2008 - Jailhouse Frocks and Blue Suede Shoes research seminar by Professor Dave Wall, University of Leeds. Intellectual property regimes and the paradox of circulation and control in the information age.

The Compton Club Film Series 2009

Following the success of the 2008 programme, we are delighted to offer a further series of events in 2009. The 2009 events build upon the Banned theme from 2008 by looking at a number of contentious issues and areas. The sessions will be free and open to all, and supported where appropriate with guidance for further viewing and reading, so as to set the films themselves within their broader context.

Firstly, we have two films which were both released in 1971:

Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs and Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange

Both were X rated when first released (for the back story see the respective factsheets), and as keen readers of the Universitys history will realise, the Old Cinema at Regent Street was the scene for the very first showing of an X-rated film, La Vie Commence Demain, in 1951, making the showing of these films particularly apposite. Both films are still shocking in their own ways, and as well as being of general interest, the films may be of particular interest to students on the Controlling Creativity module of the LLM Entertainment Law, and the Law and Culture and Film and Law modules on the LLB, although they are open to all and any interested students.

16 February 2009 -Straw Dogs has been contentious ever since its initial release. Shot in Cornwall, it has been called Peckinpah's ‘Cornish Western'. Initially submitted to the BBFC in 1971, it was originally classified as X (now 18) after some cuts suggested by the then Secretary of the BBFC. Successful at the Box Office it nevertheless drew the opprobrium of Mary Whitehouse (Chair of the National Viewers and Listeners Association) and was banned by some local councils.

23 February 2009 -A Clockwork Orange was first screened in London in 1972, the BBFC had, in 1967, stated that an early screenplay version they had sight of ‘would be unlikely to be acceptable’. However, when the film was submitted in 1971 it was passed as an X, with no cuts.

25 March 2009 at 2:00pm - Der Grosse Koening (The Great King) by Veit Harlan. Filmed in late 1940 and early 1941, this was the Third Reich's most ambitious movie to date, telling the sprawling epic tale of Friedrich the Great's momentous victory in the Seven Years' War. As all around him advise capitulation, only Friedrich has the determination and willpower to see Prussia through her darkest days. Of course, it's a historical allegory, and is as much - more probably - about Hitler than it is about Friedrich. But because the propaganda is subtle and covert, Der Grosse Koenig is one of the few Nazi-era political films which is readily obtainable in Germany today. Nevertheless, released as it was after the euphoria of Germany’s early victories had long since begun to wear off, the message of the film is clear enough: Germans must obey orders and be ready to sacrifice everything, to follow their inspired, utterly self-less leader to ultimate victory. Venue: Regent Street Room 250. Running Time: 117 minutes.

The Compton Club Film Series 2008

6 February 2008 - This Film is Not Yet Rated (Kirby Dick, 2006) introduced by Hammad Khan, Film Examiner, British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and John Dyer, Head of Education at the BBFC.

12 March 2008 - Witchfinder General variously described in publicity for the film as 'The year's most violent film!’. Introduced by Matthew Sweet.

8 April 2008 - Undertow is a very assured and visually stunning piece of work by director NeilMcenery-West.